JoSAA 2026 Counselling to Start on June 2; List of Documents Students Should Be Ready With

The Joint Seat Allocation Authority counselling process for 2026 will begin from June 2, bringing relief and excitement for lakhs of engineering aspirants across the country. Students who qualified in JEE Main 2026 and JEE Advanced 2026 will be able to participate in the counselling process for admission into IITs, NITs, IIITs, IIEST, and other Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs). According to the latest updates, the counselling registration and choice filling process will open online through the official JoSAA portal.

The JoSAA counselling process is one of the most important stages for engineering aspirants because it decides seat allocation in some of India’s top engineering institutions. Experts have advised students to keep all required documents ready in advance to avoid last-minute confusion during registration, document upload, and online reporting.

This year too, JoSAA counselling is expected to be conducted in multiple rounds. Candidates will need to complete registration, choice filling, seat locking, document verification, and fee payment within the given deadlines. Missing any deadline can result in cancellation of candidature for that round.

JoSAA 2026 Counselling Begins on June 2

As per the latest schedule available online, JoSAA counselling registration and choice filling will begin on June 2, 2026. Candidates who qualified for JEE Main or JEE Advanced will be eligible to take part in the process. IIT admissions will be based on JEE Advanced ranks, while admissions to NITs, IIITs, IIEST, and GFTIs will be based on JEE Main ranks.

The counselling process will be held completely online. Students will have to log in using their JEE application credentials and fill their preferred institutes and branches carefully.

JoSAA is expected to conduct six rounds of counselling this year. Before the final seat allotment rounds, mock allotments may also be released so students can understand their chances based on filled choices.

Why Students Should Prepare Documents Early

Every year, many candidates face problems during counselling because of missing certificates, unclear scanned copies, incorrect category documents, or delayed uploads. Since the counselling timeline is usually tight, students are advised to collect and scan all documents beforehand.

Candidates must ensure that all uploaded documents are clear and readable. Blurred or incorrect files may lead to delays in verification. Some institutes may also ask students to produce original documents during physical reporting after seat confirmation.

Students belonging to reserved categories should especially verify whether their certificates are in the latest prescribed format.

Complete List of Documents Required for JoSAA 2026 Counselling

Students should keep both original documents and scanned copies ready before the registration process starts. Based on the latest counselling guidelines and previous JoSAA procedures, the following documents are expected to be required.

1. JEE Main 2026 Scorecard

Candidates applying for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs through JEE Main must keep their JEE Main scorecard ready.

2. JEE Advanced 2026 Scorecard

Students seeking admission into IITs must upload their JEE Advanced rank card and related details.

3. Class 10 Certificate or Marksheet

This document is generally required as proof of date of birth.

4. Class 12 Marksheet and Passing Certificate

Candidates must provide proof of qualifying examination completion.

5. Admit Cards of JEE Main and JEE Advanced

Students are advised to keep copies of admit cards ready for verification purposes.

6. Category Certificate

Students belonging to SC, ST, OBC-NCL, or EWS categories must upload valid certificates in the latest prescribed format.

7. PwD Certificate

Candidates claiming reservation under the Persons with Disabilities category must produce a valid disability certificate.

8. Passport-Size Photographs

Recent passport-size photographs similar to those uploaded during JEE registration may be required.

9. Identity Proof

Candidates should keep a valid government-issued photo ID ready. Aadhaar card, PAN card, passport, voter ID, or driving licence may be accepted.

10. Seat Acceptance Fee Payment Proof

After seat allotment, students must pay the seat acceptance fee and keep the payment receipt safely.

11. Domicile Certificate

Some state quota or special category admissions may require domicile certificates.

12. Medical Certificate

Certain institutes may ask candidates to submit a medical fitness certificate during reporting.

Important Steps in the JoSAA Counselling Process

The counselling process includes several stages. Students should understand each step carefully to avoid mistakes.

Registration

Candidates must first register on the official JoSAA portal using JEE credentials.

Choice Filling

Students can select institutes and branches according to their preference. Experts suggest filling maximum possible choices to improve admission chances.

Choice Locking

After filling choices, students must lock them before the deadline. Once locked, changes are usually not allowed.

Mock Seat Allotment

JoSAA may release mock allotment rounds before final allotment. This helps students understand possible seat allocation based on current choices.

Seat Allotment

Seat allotment results will be announced round-wise on the official website.

Document Verification

Candidates allotted seats must upload required documents for online verification.

Seat Acceptance Fee Payment

Students must pay the required fee to confirm the allotted seat.

Reporting

Candidates may later need to report physically at allotted institutes for final admission formalities.

What Happens After Seat Allotment?

After a candidate receives a seat allotment, three options are generally available:

• Freeze
• Float
• Slide

The “Freeze” option means the candidate accepts the allotted seat and does not want further upgrades.

The “Float” option allows candidates to accept the current seat while remaining eligible for better options in future rounds.

The “Slide” option allows candidates to accept the institute but seek a better course within the same institute.

Candidates must carefully understand these options before making a final decision.

JoSAA Counselling for IITs and NITs

Students often get confused about eligibility rules for different institutes.

Admission into IITs is only possible through JEE Advanced ranks. Candidates who qualified only in JEE Main cannot participate in IIT admission rounds.

For NITs, IIITs, IIEST, and GFTIs, admissions are based on JEE Main ranks.

Tips for Students During Counselling

Experts have advised students to stay calm and make informed decisions during counselling.

Here are some useful tips:

• Keep multiple photocopies of all documents
• Prepare scanned PDF files in advance
• Check document size and format requirements
• Fill choices carefully after researching colleges
• Do not wait until the last day for registration
• Track all deadlines regularly
• Use stable internet while uploading documents
• Verify category certificate validity
• Keep payment receipts safely stored

Students should also regularly check official updates because counselling schedules or rules may change.

More Than 48,000 Seats Expected

Reports suggest that more than 48,000 engineering seats may be available through JoSAA and CSAB counselling this year across participating institutes. This includes seats in IITs, NITs, IIITs, IIEST, and other centrally funded institutions.

Competition is expected to remain high, especially for Computer Science and Electronics branches at top institutes.

Official Website for JoSAA 2026

Candidates are advised to complete all counselling activities only through the official JoSAA portal. Students should avoid unofficial websites or misleading social media updates.

The official JoSAA website will provide counselling schedules, seat matrix details, opening and closing ranks, and round-wise allotment updates.